LOCATION AND SOIL CAN INFLUENCE A PERSON’S THOUGHTS: JIYAR SWAMI

LOCATION AND SOIL CAN INFLUENCE A PERSON’S THOUGHTS: JIYAR SWAMI

3-JAN-ENG 3

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

SASARAM----------------------------During a discourse at the Shri Lakshmi Narayan Mahayagna being held in Agred village of Suryapura block, the great Indian sage and saint, Shri Lakshmi Prapanna Jeeyar Swami Ji Maharaj, said that location and soil have a very significant influence. When Lord Rama left Ayodhya for his exile, Lakshmana also accompanied him on the 14-year journey. After leaving Ayodhya, Lord Rama, Lakshmana, and Sita rested for the night at a certain place. After sleeping there, Lakshmana's mind was filled with negative thoughts about Lord Rama throughout the night. Lakshmana was thinking, "My brother Rama has been exiled, and his wife is with him, but I haven't been exiled, so why am I on this journey through the forest? My wife is not with me." Such thoughts were troubling Lakshmana's mind.

In the morning, Lord Rama said, "Lakshmana, let's begin the journey." Lord Rama then told Lakshmana to take a little bit of the soil from that place with him. Even while walking, Lakshmana's mind was still filled with negative thoughts. Lakshmana could no longer bear it and told Lord Rama, "Brother, my mind is very disturbed. Negative thoughts are overwhelming me." Lord Rama then said, "Lakshmana, throw away the soil you are carrying." As soon as Lakshmana threw the soil away, his thoughts and mind became completely pure.

All the negative feelings that had arisen within him vanished. Then Lord Rama told Lakshmana, "Lakshmana, the place where we rested last night was not a good place.  At one time, demons named Sunda and Upasunda lived there. They caused a lot of trouble. That's why the place was not pure. That's why you were having such negative thoughts." Therefore, sometimes such feelings arise in all of our lives, and at such times, we should also consider our place, our surroundings, and the very ground we stand on.

The place where we build our homes, where we reside, should be completely pure and sacred. This ensures that our minds and intellect are filled with positive thoughts. Conversely, if we live in a place or on land where negative events have occurred or where wrongdoings have taken place, that place is considered impure. Even resting or sleeping there can give rise to negative thoughts. Swamiji continued the discourse, saying that Lord Rama lived in a monarchy, where the king's word was supreme. Yet, Lord Rama upheld the principles of democracy.

Lord Rama accepted democratic principles on two occasions. Once, when Kaikeyi and Manthara demanded his exile, even though it was against the wishes of King Dasharatha of Ayodhya and the entire populace, Lord Rama decided to go into exile for 14 years based solely on the words of these two individuals. Today, in a democracy, if someone wins even a ward election, they want their next ten generations to rule from their own family. Even in today's democracy, a monarchical mindset prevails. But this should not be the case. In a democracy, the people of the country are the masters. Therefore, everyone has equal rights.

We should learn from Lord Rama, who was born into a monarchy, but listened to the people's voices, accepted their wishes, and established a system of governance similar to a democracy even within a monarchy. This serves as a guiding principle for all of us, setting an ideal for improving the systems of society, democracy, and culture.